Boot or shoe cleaning machine.



No. 7l5,|l8. Patented Doc. 2. I902. 0. MULLER.

800T 0R SHOE CLEANING MACHINE.

gApplication filed. Apr. 21, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Shouts-Sheet l.

Patented Dec. 2, I902. 0. MULLER.

800T 0R SHOE CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 21, 1902.)

2 Sheets-$haot 2.

(N0 Model.)

INVENTOR m} r UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO MULLER, OF OHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY.

BOOT OR SHOE CLEANING MACHINE.

SJPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,1 18, dated December 2, 1902.

Application filed April 21, 1902. Serial No. 104,027. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO MI'iLLER, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Kurfiirstenstrasse 101, Charlottenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Cleaning Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a boot or shoe cleaning machine which operates in such a manner that the boot or shoe is moved forward by means of a holder and handle secured to the boot, but capable of being readily detached therefrom along a horizontal rail or track in such a manner that the lower or foot part of the boot passes between a number of brushes by which it is cleaned and polished, and finally the holder and the boot are automatically or by hand removed from the machine.

A practical construction of such a machine is shown in the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine in which the brushes and their driving-belts are shown only diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine in which the rail for guiding the shoes and boots and adjacent parts are omitted. Fig. 3 is a section on the.

line A B of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a plan view of that part of the machine being shown in section in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of one of the brushes serving for cleaning the boots and shoes. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the polishing-brushes. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View.

On the frame 1 of the machine are arranged four pairs of rotatory brushes 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, 5 5, of which the first pair serve for removing the dirt, the second pair for putting on the black ing, and the other pairs for polishing. The brushes are mounted on convenient shafts 6, journaled in brackets or supports 7, secured to the frame, and are operated from a drivingshaft 8, which is driven by any suitable source of power, in this case by hand. The motion is transmitted by belt or chain transmission 9 9 to the cleaning-brushes 2 2 and from the latter by belts or chains 10 10 to the blackingbrushes 3 3. In order to transmit the motion to the polishing-brushes 4 4 and 5 5, an intermediate shaft 12 is arranged, driven by a belt orchain 11 and driving, by means of belt or chain transmission 13 13, the first polishing-brushes 4 4, the motion of which is in turn transmitted through belts or chains 14 14.- or through convenient gearing to the second set 5 5 of polishing-brushes. The cleaning-brushes 2 2 and the blacking-brushes 3 3 are composite in structure and preferably consist of disks 15, rigidly mounted upon their corresponding shafts 6 and carrying segmental brushes 17, which are preferably attached to the disks by means of radial hinges 16. To the free end of each brush 17 a second shorter segmental brush 18 is attached by hinges 19. Both brush-sections are pressed by suitable springs 20 and 21 against the boot to be cleaned. The spring 20 is socured to the disk 15, while the other spring bears against an extension 22 of the back of the segmental brush. The polishing-brushes 4 at and 5 5 are also composite and consist in the present construction of a ring 23, provided with bristles of a semispherical or, if desired, pointed central brush 24. In order to press those brushes against the boot or shoe to be cleaned, they are movable in an axial direction by means of sleeves 25, mounted upon the corresponding shafts 6, their motion, however, being limited by a pin or stop 27 on the shaft 6 engaging in a longitudinal slot 26 in the sleeve. The pin is preferably also adapted to carry with it the brush upon the rotation of the shaft. The brush is pressed against the boot by a suitable spring 28, mounted upon the shaft.

The boot or shoe to be cleaned is carried through the machine and between the rotatory brushes by means of a guide-rail 30, supported on two arms 29 above the machineframe 1 in such a manner that the .brushes are also operated in the following manner: A drawing device, preferably in the form of a chain 31, runs over the rail and is guided by three rollers 32 and a driving-wheel 33. The latter is rigidly secured to a shaft 3 1, driven by a belt or chain transmission 35 from a pinion 36 on a shaft 37. A toothed wheel 39 on this shaft is in turn driven by a pinion 38 on the intermediate shaft 12, be ore referred to.

The shoe or boot 43 to be cleaned is provided with a suitable holder 40, inserted into the boot, so as to hold the boot in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the samecoincides with the longitudinal direction of the machine. To each holder is attached a guidepiece 41, Fig. 3, adapted to engage the upper and lower portions of a vertical flange 42 of the guide-rail 30. The holder carrying the boot is so placed onto the front flat portion of the guide-rail 30 that an arm 45, Fig. 4, projecting from the guide-bar, comes in the path of pins or projections 45 on the carrying chain or device 31. One of these pins 45 therefore on the movement of the chain will bear against the arm 45 and carry the holder along with it, while the holder itself is held by hand until the guide-bar is slipped over the flange of the rail. The chain or the like moves the boot-holder in the direction of the arrow 46 at a uniform speed through the machine, the cleaning-brushes 2 thus first of all removing the dirt. The inwardly-projecting brush portions 18 act principally to clean the upper parts of the shoe, while the other parts 17 are adapted to clean the sides and the heel of the boot. The brush parts 17 18 are yieldingly supported by their springs, so as to be capable ofaccommodating themselves to anyshape and size of boot. As soon as the latter has passed through the cleaning-brushes 2 a fresh engaging pin 45 appears over the front guideroller 32, ready to carry forward another boot, if desired. The first boot is carried upon the continued motion of the chain through the blacking-brushes 3 3, which act in the same manner as the cleaning-brushes and apply the blacking to the boot. During this time the second shoe will be treated by the cleaningbrushes 2 2, and a third engaging pin 45 comes into position to receive and carry forward a third boot, if desired. The first boot now passes through the polishing-brushes 4 4 and 5 5. The first pair 4 4 are situated slightly higher than the second pair 5 5 and are adapted to polish the upper sides of the boot, while the second pair 5 5 are intended principally to polish only the parts of the latter which are adjacent to the sole and the heel. For the treatment of the side parts of the boot the outer circular brush portions 23, Fig. 6, are used. While the boots subsequently introduced into the machine are treated by the cleaning and blacking brushes before passing to the polishing-brushes, the foremost boot advances until it can be removed and transported to a convenient collecting-bar 47. In order to prevent the pairs of brushes while rotating but not acting on a boot from coming in contact with each other, the brushes on one side of the machine are arranged in advance of the brushes on the other side of the machine.

In order to effect the removal of the polished shoe, the vertical flange 42 is cut away at the necessary point, so as to leave at the rear part of the rail 30, similarly to the front end, a flat portion 48, which is adapted to guide the chain until the latter has passed over its rear guide-roller 32. To this rail is attached the upper end of the collecting-bar 50 by means of a bracket 47. Moreover, this rail carries a horizontally-acting fiat spring 51, normally in line with the central path of the holder. The holder 40 having advanced so far in the direction of the arrow 46 that the advancing edges of its guide-piece 41 have passed beyond the end of the guide-flange 42, a projecting hook 52, attached to the holder, bears laterally against andin position to engage an extension 49 of the collecting-rod 47. At the same time the holder comes in contact with the flat spring 51 and presses the latter aside, giving it a slight tension. The holder now presses gainst the flange and the extension moves farther on, and at the moment at which the rear edge of its guide-piece 41 arrives at the end of the flange the projecting hook 52 reaches the rear end of the extension 49. Thus the holder and its hook loose the lateral support and the holder 40 is at the same time deflected by the released spring to the right of the track. The hook 52, however, bears against and simultaneously engages the rod 47, and thus the holder slides down along the rod, which is preferably inclined, and comes to rest upon a horizontal extension of this rod. (Not shown.) The holder is then detached from the rod, and after removing the polished shoe it can be used again in the manner above described.

It becomes necessary from time to time to supply the blacking-brushes with fresh blacking. For this purpose a pivoted lever 55 56 is arranged beneath the brushes and fulcrumed about a fixed support 54. One arm of this lever carries a loose-rotatable rollerbrush 57. Normally this lever is so situated that the brush 57 dips into a blacking tank or receptacle 58. In order to adjust or raise the brush after the blacking of about ten or more shoes or boots, so that it shall come in contact with the blacking-brushes 3 3 to allow the latter to take up the blacking, a pin or projection 59 is arranged on the chain 31 and slides over and slightly depresses the other cnrved .end 56 of the pivoted lever. The arm 56 is 'of such curvature as to produce a slow ascent of the brush which remains for a certain time in its highest position and then descends slowly back into the receptacle.

The holder 40, shown by way of example, is adapted to take high boots, top-boots, as Well as ordinary low shoes. Attached to the rear edge of the holder is a lever 60 through a vertical slot 60, in which extends a bar 62, provided with rack-tooth and hinged upon a pivot 61 on the tree? portion of the holder. Under the action of a spring 63 the lever has the tendency to be pressed back away from the forward or tree part of the holder 40, so I the terminus of the guide-rail in such posithat the lower part 64 of this lever bears closely against the lower rear edge of the tree. Attached to this part of the lever is a doublearmed lever 65 66, which on the lGVBl being moved forward presses closely against the heel part of the interior of the boot. The rack-bar 62 prevents the automatic return of the lever. YVhen it is desired to remove the holder from the boot, the rack-bar 62 is raised to such an extent as to release the lever from engagement with its teeth, whereupon the lever is moved by the spring 63 until its arm 64 bears against the holder. At the same time a spring 68 tends to turn the lever (56 so that its lower end engages in an oblique groove 69 in the holder. The latter can thus be easily removed and introduced into another boot.

Instead of securing an elastic side boot or a top-boot on the holder an ordinary shoe could be secured to the latter, to which end the rear lever 65 is first of all turned until a book 70 on the front lever can engage with it. Thereupon the holder is introduced into the shoe and the front lever-arm 60 is moved toward the tree portion until the heel portion 66 of the rear lever strongly bears against the heel part of the shoe. The rack bar arm prevents a backward motion of the lover.

The machine described can he obviously modified Within certain limitsas, for instance, by dispensing with certain brushes or modifying their structure or actuating-gearingwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a supportingframe, a guide rail connected therewith, an endless belt traveling in line with said rail and provided with engaging means, a boot and shoe holder provided with a guide-piece adapted to engage the rail, a set of brushes progressively arranged, and means for imparting motion to the endless belt, the holder and the brushes.

2. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a supporting-frame, an endless belt, a boot and shoe holder carried by the belt, brushes arranged in pairs and so disposed as to engage between their opposing faces the boot and shoe holder, and means for imparting motion to the belt and to the brushes.

3. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a supporting-frame, a guide-rail mounted thereon and provided for a portion of its length with a flange, an endless belt traveling in line with said guide-rail and provided with engaging pins, a boot and shoe holder adapted to be engaged by the pins and provided with guiding means adapted to engage the flange of the rail and having a projecting hook, a collecting-rod mounted contiguous to tion as to be engaged by the hook of the holder, a series of pairs of brushes disposed progressively in such position as to contact with the boot and shoe holder and means for imparting motion to the belt and to the brushes.

4. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a supporting-frame, a guide-rail, an endless chain mounted for movement in line with said rail and provided with a plurality of engaging pins, a boot and'shoe holder adapted to be engaged by the pins and having a guidepiece shaped to engage the rail, a plurality of pairs of brushes one brush of each pair being located in advance of the other and means for imparting motion to the endless chain and the brushes.

5. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a frame, a guide-rail supported thereby and provided for a portion of its length with a flange, an endless belt mounted upon the frame for movement in line with the guiderail, projections carried by the belt, a boot and shoe holder adapted to be engaged by the belt projections and provided with means for engaging the guide-rail, a collecting-rod disposed adjacent to the end of the flanged portion of the guide-rail, a spring operating to deflect-the boot and shoe holder onto the collecting-rod, a series of pairs of rotary brushes mounted on the frame in such manner as to progressively contact with the boot and shoe holder in its passage along the guide-rail, and means for imparting motion to the endless belt and to the brushes.

6. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a disk mounted for rotary movement upon a shaft and carrying brushes arranged concentrically upon the disk, springsinterposed between the disk and the brushes, and means for imparting motion to said disk.

7. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a disk mounted for rotary movement upon a shaft supported in a suitable bearing, a segmental brush arranged concentrically upon the disk and secured thereto at one extremity by a hinge, a spring interposed between the brush and the disk, and means for imparting a rotary movement to the disk.

8. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a disk mounted for rotary movement upon a suitable shaft, a segmental brush consisting of two portions hinged together, one of said portions secured to the disk by a hinge, a spring interposed between one of said portions and the disk, another spring interposed between an elongation of the first portion of the brush and the other portion of the brush whereby the end portion of the brush will be thrust forward at an increased angle to the face of the disk, and means for imparting.

motion to the shaft.

9. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a pair of disks mounted for rotary movement upon shafts journaled in suitable supports, each of said disks carrying segmental brushes disposed concentrically and at an angle to the plane of the disk, springs interposed betweenthe brushes and the disk, the two disks being disposed in opposition one to the other, and means for imparting motion to the shafts.

10. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a plurality of pairs of disks mounted upon shafts journaled in suitable supports, each disk carrying a plurality of segmental brushes concentrically arranged, each brush being yieldingly disposed at an angle to the plane of the disk, the disks of each pair having their faces in opposition and arranged one in advance of the other and the different pairs in the series arranged progressively in a suitable supporting-frame, and means for imparting to the several shafts a rotary motion.

11. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a series of pairs of disks mounted for rotary movement upon shafts journaled in a suitable support, springs mounted upon said shafts and serving to actuate the disks longitudinally thereof, the face of each disk provided with brushes having a hemispherical surface, one of each pair of disks arranged slightly in advance of the other and each pair in the series arranged in advance of the preceding pair, means for imparting a rotary motion to the shafts and means for holding and carrying a boot or shoe progressively between the opposing faces of the brushes and in contact therewith.

12. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a frame, aguide-rail mounted thereon, an endless belt suitably mounted in said frame for movement longitudinally thereof in line with the guide-rail, a boot and shoe holder, means carried by the belt and engaging the boot and shoe holder, a guide-piece carried by the shoeholder and adapted to engage the guide-rail, a plurality of pairs of cleaning-brushes disposed in approximately the same horizontal plane as the holder with their faces in opposition and mounted uponshafts journaled in suitable bearings 'within the supportingframe, the initial pairs of brushes being mounted concentrically upon disks and with their surfaces at an angle to the plane of the disk, springs interposed between the disk and the brushes whereby the angle of said brushes to the disk will be yieldingly variable, the final pairs of brushes being mounted for yielding longitudinal movement upon their respective shafts and consisting of segmental andhemispherical brush-surfaces, one brush of each pair-arranged in advance of the other and the several pairs arranged progressively longitudinally of the frame, means for supplying blacking to one of said pairs of brushes, and means for imparting to the brushes a rotary motion and to the endless belt a motion longitudinally of the frame.

13. In aboot and shoe cleaning machine, the combination with a supporting-frame provided with rotary brushes, a guide-rail, an endless chain, and means for imparting motion to the brushes and the chain, of a boot and shoe holder mounted upon a guide-rail and adapted to be engaged by the endless chain and thereby carried longitudinally of the supporting-frame between the opposing faces of the brushes.

14. In a boot and shoe cleaning machine, a frame, a guide-rail, an endless belt, a boot and shoe holder, a hook projecting from the front edge of the holder, a collecting-rod, a projection at the upper end of said collecting-rod in approximately the same horizontal plane as the guide-rail, a spring secured to the guiderail and arranged to bear laterally against the holder.

15. In a boot and shoe'cleaning machine, the combination with a frame, cleaning-brushes mounted thereon, and means for carrying a bootorshoelongitudinallyinengagementwith said brushes, of a two-armed lever pivotally secured in the frame, a brush rotatably mounted on one arm of said lever, a box adapted to contain blacking, and means for operating said lever.

16. Inabootandshoecleaningmachine,the combination with a frame, rotary cleaningbrushes mounted therein, an endless belt adapted to carry a boot or shoe longitudinally of said frame and in engagement with the cleaning-brushes, and means for imparting motion to the brushes and to the endless belt, of a lever pivotally mounted in the frame and carrying at one end a brush adapted to normally rest in the box containing blacking, a projection carried by the endless belt and adapted to engage one arm of the lever and thereby to operate the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 'in presence of two Witnesses.

OTTO MULLER.

\Vitnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER. 

